Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!cbmvax!grr
From: grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: New Virus;deadly
Message-ID: <3066@cbmvax.UUCP>
Date: 3 Jan 88 08:44:20 GMT
References: <2243@crash.cts.com>
Reply-To: grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins)
Organization: Commodore Technology, West Chester, PA
Lines: 91

In article <2243@crash.cts.com> haitex@pnet01.cts.com (Wade Bickel) writes:
> dougl@ism780c.UUCP (Doug Leavitt) writes:
> >seems time for me and any others interested in protecting their investments
> >before it gets out of hand.
> >
> >Here are some things I have thought of to start cleaning up this mess:
> >
> >1)	GET PEOPLE INFORMED.  Next time anyone goes to a user group
> >  meeting make sure there is a virus update announcement.  Many
> >  of the people in my user groups already have heard about the
> >  first virus.  I personally plan to start warning people in my
> >  user groups about the new virus's destructive capabilities.
> >  When a new and updated Vcheck comes out (FROM Commodore, lets
> >  not accept substitutes) get it distributed to user group
> >  BBS's and other sources as fast as possible.  Also tell people
> >  that it exists.
> >
> 
>   Seems like a good idea to me.  C= really should take the
> initiative on this.  They have the most to lose and the
> best access to Amiga owners.  We should gripe at them if
> they don't do a good job at this.

	It seems that we have been doing our part.  We could of course make
	the ROM software stupider so none of this would work, and lots of
	productive applications would be closed off.

> >2)	LETS START TRACKING IT.  The best way to squelch this problem
> >  is to start finding the source(s).  I'm sure if we could name
> >  names, and show proof, Commodore could and would prosecute.
> >  Let's start doing so.  Here's some of the things that I think
> >  can be done:
> 
>       Be realistic!  Most people got a hold of this thing because
>  they were using pirated software.  So most of the sources are 
>  illegal and would require the admission of a criminal act on
>  the part of the victim.

	BULSHIT!  Why make this assumption and make excuses for the virus
	perpetrators? 
 
>       I'm sorry for people who contracted this innocently.  If
>  somebody really lost a years work and aquired the virus innocently
>  my heart goes out to them.   I have at time lost as much as two
>  weeks work  (a bad drive did it) and it is a really depressing
>  experiance.  

	If the noses of the virus perpetrators were within range of the
	fist of someone who had just got burned, then perhaps there might
	be a quick end to the problem.   Perhaps the first experimentors
	really didn't understand the consequences, but you can be pretty
	sure the copycats do.  Hopefully, they will boast to the wrong
	person and find out about the fist vs. nose part.

>       However we should recognize that this is just a result of
>  rampant software piracy in the Amiga market, both by individuals
>  and corporations.  I would be curious to see a study come about
>  exploring the degree of piracy using the virus as an reference.
>  I think we should recognize that the heart of the problem lies in
>  in the fact that a good percentage of the people cannot be trusted
>  to be honest if there are no penaties for cheating.  I have little
>  sympathy for a software theif, and if you associate with and
>  exchange data with a thief knowingly, too bad!

	The victim is just as likely to be Joe A. Average exchanging public
	domain software at a user's group or Fred Fish or even little me, 
	rather than this data criminal of yours.  Why burden them with what
	you preceive to be the sins of the Amiga community?
 
>       I have not yet run across the virus, and am getting concerned.
>  Has it gotten into any commercial software?

	You're lucky so far.  Perhaps your "holier-than-thou" attitude would
	change if you had run into one of these unpleasant occurances. 
	
>       I recommend that C= release a program which identifies 
>  contaminated disks but does not fix them!  Where can I get
>  a copy of whatever diagnostic program that currently exists?

	Please observe the postings of Bill Koester, who is doing what he
	he can.  Of course, he is only one person and can only react after
	people start getting hurt.  It's up to you people out there to
	impress upon your peers that this sort of thing is not appreciated.


	Sorry if this comes across as a class A flame, but I think you
	should reconsider your attitude with respect to this problem...
-- 
George Robbins - now working for,	uucp: {uunet|ihnp4|rutgers}!cbmvax!grr
but no way officially representing	arpa: cbmvax!grr@uunet.uu.net
Commodore, Engineering Department	fone: 215-431-9255 (only by moonlite)